Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

A Research Study on Secure Attachment Using the Primary Caregiving Approach

  • Published:
Early Childhood Education Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A child’s positive sense of well-being is central to their overall growth and development. With an increasing number of mothers in the workforce, many infants and toddlers spend much time in child care services. Hence it is crucial that caregivers provide a secure base for the child to develop secure attachment with educarers. Given multiple caregivers, fostering attachment in the child care setting can be problematic. One strategy used in some countries is the implementation of a primary caregiving system. The purpose of this research study was to investigate how caregivers in two childcare centres in Singapore implemented the primary caregiving system. A ‘before-and-after’ methodology was used to find out if change had occurred after the intervention. Results showed that attachment in infants/toddlers had strengthened through the improved educaring practices, collaboration with families, staff team work and employment stability.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2011). More mothers employed [Media Release]. Retrieved October 15, 2013, from http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mediareleasesbytitle/B8636C110EA2308DCA25745F00810952?OpenDocument.

  • Balaban, N. (2006). Easing the separation process for infants, toddlers, and families. Young Children, 61(6), 14–18. Retrieved from http://www.naeyc.org/files/yc/file/200611/BTJBalaban.pdf.

  • Bell, J. (2010). Doing your research project: A guide for first-time researchers in education, health, and social science (5th ed.). Maidenhead: Open University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berk, L. E. (2011). Exploring lifespan development (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berk, L. E. (2012). Child development (9th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berman, J. (2010). SuperBaby: 12 ways to give your child a head start in the first 3 years. New York, NY: Sterling.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowlby, J. (2010a). Attachment: Attachment and loss (Vol. 1, 2nd Ed.). London: Basic Books (Original work published 1969).

  • Bowlby, J. (2010b). Separation: Anxiety and anger: Attachment and loss (Vol. 2). New York: Basic Books (Original work published 1973).

  • Bowlby, J. (2011). Loss: Sadness and depression: Attachment and loss (Vol. 3). London: Random House (Original work published 1980).

  • Cassidy, J. (2000). Adult romantic attachments: A developmental perspective on individual differences. Review of General Psychology, 4(2), 111–131.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cowie, H. (2012). From birth to sixteen: Children’s health, social, emotional and linguistic development. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Creswell, J. W. (2013a). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Creswell, J. W. (2013b). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative and mixed method approaches (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cross, M. (2011). Children with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties and communication problems: There is always a reason (2nd ed.). London: Jessica Kingsley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Department for Children, Schools and Families. (2008). Targeted mental health in schools project. Using the evidence to inform your approach: A practical guide for head teachers and commissioners. Nottingham, England, UK: DCSF.

    Google Scholar 

  • Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR). (2009). Belonging, being and becoming: The early years learning framework for Australia. Retrieved October 31, 2013, from http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/250298/early-years-learning-framework.pdf.

  • Department of Health. (2004). Choosing health: Making healthy choices easier. Retrieved from http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130107105354/http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/@ps/documents/digitalasset/dh_133489.pdf.

  • Early Childhood Development Agency. (2013). Statistics on child care centres. Retrieved September 22, 2013, from http://www.childcarelink.gov.sg/ccls/uploads/Statistics_on_child_care(STENT).pdf.

  • Ebbeck, M., & Yim, H. Y. B. (2008). Fostering relationships between infants, toddlers and their primary caregivers in child care centres in Australia. In M. R. Jalongo (Ed.), Enduring bonds: The significance of interpersonal relationships in young children’s lives (pp. 159–177). doi:10.1007/978-0-387-74525-1_10.

  • Education Bureau, Hong Kong. (2012). Operation manual for pre-primary institutions. Retrieved October 30, 2013 from http://www.edb.gov.hk/attachment/en/edu-system/preprimary-kindergarten/about-preprimary-kindergarten/Operation%20Mannal_eng.pdf.

  • Education Scotland. (2013). Learning throughout life: Pre-birth to three. Retrieved September 29, 2013, from http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/thecurriculum/whatiscurriculumforexcellence/learningthroughoutlife/prebirthto3.asp.

  • Erickson, M. F., Korfmacher, J., & Egeland, B. (2008). Attachments past and present: Implications for therapeutic intervention with mother–infant dyads. Development and Psychopathology, 4(4), 495–507. doi:10.1017/S0954579400004843.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gold, C. M. (2011). Keeping your child in mind: Overcoming defiance, tantrums, and other everyday behaviour problems by seeing the world through your child’s eyes. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez-Mena, J. (2013). Foundations of early childhood education: Teaching children in a diverse society (6th ed.). Boston, MA: McGraw Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goy, P., & Tai, J. (2013). Tackling Singapore’s childcare crunch (pp. B1–B2). Singapore: The Straits Times.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, L. (2003). Attachment: Building secure relationships in early childhood. Research in Practice Series, 10(2), 1–18.

  • Honig, A. S. (1984). Secure attachment: Key to infant mental health. Infant Mental Health Journal, 9(2), 181–183.

    Google Scholar 

  • Honig, A. S. (2002). Secure relationships: Nurturing infant/toddler attachment in early care settings. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kovach, B., & Da Ros-Voseles, D. (2008). Being with babies: Understanding and responding to the infants in your care. Beltsville, MD: Gryphon House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, R. (2011). Research methodology: A step-by-step guide for beginners (3rd ed.). London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ladd, G. W. (2007). Social competence: An important educational objective? Asia–Pacific Journal of Research in Early Childhood Education, 1(1), 3–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marotz, L. R. (2012). Health, safety, and nutrition for the young child (8th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, D. P. (2008). Overcoming school anxiety. How to help your child deal with separation, tests, homework, bullies, math phobia, and other worries. New York: AMACOM.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayr, T., & Ulich, M. (2006). Children’s well-being in day care centres: An exploratory empirical study. International Journal of Early Years Education, 7(3), 229–239. doi:10.1080/0966976990070303.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki. Early childhood curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Education, Singapore. (2012). Nurturing early learners: A curriculum framework for kindergartens in Singapore. Retrieved from http://moe.gov.sg/education/preschool/files/kindergarten-curriculum-framework.pdf.

  • Ministry of Social and Family Development, Singapore. (2012). Child care and pre-school education media queries: Query on quality early childhood education [Press Room]. Retrieved September 29, 2013, from http://app.msf.gov.sg/PressRoom/Childcarepreschooleducationmediaqueries.aspx.

  • Mofrad, S., Abdullah, R., & Uba, I. (2010). Separation anxiety disorder: What families can do? Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia: Universiti Putra Malaysia Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mustard, J. F. (2006). Early child development and experience-based brain development: The scientific underpinnings of the importance of early child development in a globalized world. Washington, DC: The Brookings Institution.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pantley, E. (2010). The no-cry separation anxiety solution: Gentle ways to make good-bye easy from six months to six years. New York: McGraw Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raikes, H. (1996). A secure base for babies: Applying attachment concepts to the infant care setting. Young Children, 51(5), 59–67. ERIC No: EJ526459.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richardson, S. (2000). Primary caregiving systems for infants and toddlers. Childcare and Children’s Health, 3(4), 1–4. Retrieved from http://childcare10.sydneyinstitute.wikispaces.net/file/view/PRIMARY+CAREGIVING+SYSTEM.pdf.

  • Riley, D., San Juan, R. R., Klinkner, J., & Ramminger, A. (2008). Social and emotional development: Connecting science and practice in early childhood settings. St. Paul, MN: Redleaf Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schaffer, H. R., & Emerson, P. E. (2008). The development of social attachments in infancy. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 29(3), 1–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shin, M., & Lee, S. Y. (2011). Exploring the connection between a developmental change and relationship development with caregivers and peers. Asia–Pacific Journal of Research in Early Childhood Education, 5(2), 1–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shonkoff, J. P., & Phillips, D. A. (Eds.). (2000). From neurons to neighbourhoods: The science of early childhood development. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, D. (2004). Development of standards and measurement tools for quality assurance systems in Australian children. Paper presented at the Early Childhood Development and Education International Conference: Questions of Quality: Defining, Assessing and Supporting Quality in Early Childhood Care and Education, Dublin, Ireland.

  • Theilheimer, R. (2006). Moulding to the children: Primary caregiving and continuity of care. Zero to Three, 26(3), 50–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wellington, J. (2000). Educational research: Contemporary issues and practical approaches. London: Continuum.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marjory Ebbeck.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ebbeck, M., Phoon, D.M.Y., Tan-Chong, E.C.K. et al. A Research Study on Secure Attachment Using the Primary Caregiving Approach. Early Childhood Educ J 43, 233–240 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-014-0647-4

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-014-0647-4

Keywords

Navigation